C9 Rolling the Bed

"You've been stuck at the ninth level of Soul Manifestation for five years. Your talent is significant, and that's part of why breaking through has been so challenging. However, the main issue is that you've been neglecting your cultivation these past few years. If you dedicated yourself to it, you'd surely break through in under three months."

Second Senior Brother's eyes widened at these words.

Was he being called dumb, clumsy, and lazy?

When had Second Senior Brother ever endured such an insult? Sword in hand, he charged at Wu Pingfan.

Everyone braced themselves, closing their eyes to avoid witnessing a potentially bloody scene.

But instead, they saw Second Senior Brother, who had been as proud as a rooster, suddenly launched in a parabolic arc, landing face-first into the ground.

Xiao Xiao's eyes went wide in shock. Wasn't Wu Pingfan without cultivation? How did he manage to send Second Senior Brother flying...

Struggling to his feet, Second Senior Brother bellowed, "Again!"

That's when everyone realized that Wu Pingfan had effortlessly tossed him aside with just his hand, as if he were throwing a small chick.

After being thrown twenty times, Second Senior Brother, still undeterred, kept getting back up. Wu Pingfan finally spoke up, "You're on the verge of a breakthrough. Go back and focus on your cultivation."

He then sighed, walking away with Coal, the big block dog.

Coal barked twice in protest. Wu Pingfan sighed again, "I can't in good conscience accept someone in that state. Next time, I'll treat you to a meal."

Second Senior Brother watched the retreating figures, coughing up a mouthful of blood, and felt his cultivation level advance from Soul Manifestation to Spirit Absorption.

It was an event that would be talked about as one of the great mysteries of Starfall Peaks.

If anyone were curious about that day's events and asked Second Senior Brother, they would see his face filled with respect and hear a wistful sigh.

The disciples of Starfall Peaks grew to admire Wu Pingfan even more.

They began to emulate Wu Pingfan's teaching methods, and it wasn't long before disciples were regularly seen being tossed through the air. Over time, the disciples of Starfall Peaks became renowned for their resilience, each developing into a rugged warrior.

After what happened to Second Senior Brother, the most troubled was Xiao Xiao. While the other disciples who had received Wu Pingfan's guidance saw rapid advancements in their cultivation, she remained utterly baffled.

Even though Wu Pingfan had instructed her in the ways of cultivation, Xiao Xiao remained obstinate. Surprisingly, she managed to surpass even her less gifted junior sister, which left her feeling unsatisfied. Determined to improve, she climbed the mountain late at night.

There she found her Junior Master, Wu Pingfan, savoring a meal of meat—a big bowl of aromatic braised chicken. While the disciples of Starfall Peaks were forbidden from eating meat, he indulged without restraint, stirring a deep envy within Xiao Xiao.

"Junior Master, where did this meat come from?" she inquired softly as she approached.

Wu Pingfan glanced up at her and replied, "Caught a wild chicken on the back mountain."

Wild... Wild chicken?

A sudden realization sent Xiao Xiao dashing to the kitchen, where she found feathers scattered everywhere. These were no ordinary feathers; they were jewel-blue with a rainbow sheen. Clutching them, she fought back tears.

This was the pill chicken, nurtured by the young master with countless pills. Rumored to detoxify the body and enhance one's cultivation with just one bite, it was now gone.

With tears streaming down her face, Xiao Xiao devoured two large bowls, making sure to pair it with a serving of rice.

After her meal, she let out a satisfied burp and eagerly asked, "Junior Master, with your remarkable abilities, why do you lack any cultivation?"

Her curiosity was shared by several senior brothers.

Initially, Xiao Xiao had dismissed the Junior Master as a wastrel, but now she found him increasingly agreeable, understanding why even the mountain lord held him in high regard.

Wu Pingfan set his bowl aside and after a brief pause, he said, "I do not cultivate the Dao."

Xiao Xiao misinterpreted his words as, "My cultivation is different from yours."

He then added, "Your complexion looks off, and you have blisters at the corner of your mouth. You should eat less braised food."

Xiao Xiao's eyes widened in astonishment. "Junior Master, can you also read faces?"

Wu Pingfan offered no denial. Anyone could tell from Xiao Xiao's condition that she was suffering from internal heat.

"The cultivation technique you taught me that day still eludes me. I would be grateful for further guidance, Junior Master," Xiao Xiao implored, unabashed in her request.

She had no intention of revealing that it was the Second Senior Brother who had egged her on, nor would she confess to being the ringleader in undermining the Junior Master.

In the grand scheme of cultivating one's spiritual power, what significance did these trivial matters hold? They were nothing but passing clouds!

Wu Pingfan cast a sidelong glance at her. He recalled the days on Starfall Peaks, where his master had taught him and his fellow disciples more challenging methods of cultivation. Even the least adept senior sister had managed to grasp some of it. His master had once remarked that even Coal could master such a simple technique.

"Even Coal can learn it," he had said.

Xiao Xiao looked over at the well-fed big block dog sprawled out lazily on the ground, which made her question her life choices. Yet, remembering that it was a fourth-stage spirit animal, she approached with newfound reverence and whispered, "Senior dog, do you know how to use that cultivation technique? Would you teach me, please?"

Wu Pingfan furrowed his brow, puzzled as to why she would seek instruction from Coal, who was, after all, just a dog. Noticing her undivided attention was on Coal, Wu Pingfan quietly tidied up the dishes and rose to leave. Once he was gone, Coal yawned and spoke with a languid tone.

"You're too foolish. I won't teach you."

Xiao Xiao's face flushed with embarrassment.

The senior dog then disdainfully spat out a couple of chicken bones, casting a scornful look at her before hopping away into the inner room.

"Coal, she must be out of her mind to think you could teach her a technique," Wu Pingfan murmured to himself.

Xiao Xiao, her cheeks burning, overheard his comment and swiftly departed.

The news of Xiao Xiao running from the side peak in tears reached Zhuo Xianqun, who was baffled as to why her junior brother would be accused of such behavior. Xiao Xiao arrived, a mess of tears and sniffles, to lodge her complaint.

"Master Xiao ate the chicken meant for the senior disciple and even made two large bowls of stewed chicken!"

Upon hearing this, the senior disciple's eyes widened and he blew his nose in frustration. "I was wondering where my chicken had gone. So it was stolen! Wait, what did you say? Master Xiao ate it?"

The normally irascible senior disciple's demeanor softened as he said with a smile, "For the chicken to be eaten by Master Xiao, it's an honor!"

Zhuo Xianqun chimed in, "It's a rare treat for our junior brother to enjoy. Haven't you raised several chickens yourself?"

Both of them looked on with eyes brimming with affection.

She later discovered that the Little Master and Wu Pingfan had shared a brief stint as sworn brothers.

Both were intent on nurturing Wu Pingfan until he was plump and fair-skinned.

Xiao Xiao was at a loss for words.

As the Sword Dao Conference drew near, the disciples of Starfall Peaks were on high alert, embarking on a grueling thirty-day training regimen to secure a spot in the competition.

"Little Six!" Zhuo Xianqun called out to the eldest senior brother, who was clad in a flowing white robe, using spiritual sense so that all the disciples of Starfall Peaks could hear his booming voice.

The eldest senior brother's face darkened immediately, and he longed to vanish on the spot. Undeterred, Zhuo Xianqun scooped him up, hauling him off by force, and eventually deposited him onto a soft couch.

Zhuo Xianqun had an odd quirk: he had placed a large bed in the council hall. The bed was spacious enough for six or seven Wu Pingfans to tumble around on, and indeed, he had done just that.